The chicken paprikash ($14.50) at Paprika restaurant in the Mission District in San Francisco.

Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

The chicken paprikash ($14.50) at Paprika restaurant in the Mission...

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The crowd at Paprika in the Mission is mostly locals - including workers from other kitchens, like this man enjoying a beer at the bar.

Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

The crowd at Paprika in the Mission is mostly locals - including...

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Above, the best seats at Paprika, near the 24th Street BART Station, are those in the front windows. Top left, chicken paprikash ($14.50). Right, the German spice sausage and a bockwurst with a Pilsner Urquell; far right, owner Gabrielle Seckar oversees the bar.

Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

Above, the best seats at Paprika, near the 24th Street BART...

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Owner Gabrielle Seckar oversees the bar at Paprika restaurant in the Mission District in San Francisco.

Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

Owner Gabrielle Seckar oversees the bar at Paprika restaurant in...

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The German Spice sausage and a Bockwurst with a Pilsner Urquell at Paprika restaurant in San Francisco.

This Mission newcomer is all over the map, and that's a good thing. Czech beers, German sausages and Hungarian home-style dishes make for a charming European experience that's upstaged only by the friendliness of its owners.

Feel free to linger and drink up - Paprika is just a stone's throw from BART - but do bring some bills. It's cash only.

The vibe: Low-key and loving it. The decor is bare bones, and, thankfully, there's no need to yell across the table to hear your companions.

The crowd: Mostly local and blue-collar. Don't be surprised to see construction workers pop in after their shifts.

Best seat: By the front windows, where a table is tucked neatly into each set of panes. It's a cute, street-facing space for couples or a party of two.

Killer app: Sausages ($6.50), especially the bockwurst, are the real deal, grilled to perfection and served with spicy mustard, sauerkraut and cornichons. Make sure to also treat yourself to hearty Hungarian specialties like pork goulash ($14) and chicken paprikash ($14.50).

Signature drink: Hard-to-find Czech beers like Staropramen and Pilsner Urquell, as well as two entries from Krusovice - a dark lager and Imperial pilsner ($6-$6.50 for a half-liter). And yes, for the very thirsty, you can order Das Boot, a liter of your favorite beer ($12/$13).

Also on tap: Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier from Germany ($6.50) and eight wines by the glass and bottle.

Bonus: Go during happy hour - Monday through Friday, 5 to 7 p.m. - and get a dollar off beer.